Molding and printing method and apparatus



Sept. 13, 1949. G. c. SCHAU MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1944 INVENTOR. Gama/v C. SCI/A478 ATTORNEY p 3, 1949. a. c. SCHAU 2,481,

MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. Gonna/v 61 SCHAl/B ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1949. e. c. SCHAUB 2,481,

HOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 [/7 I /06 m a 1/6 /04 M5 Ill .29 2/ ad 37 54 1U 22 36 m 95 #4 107 \g 3/ I W, I L\\\\\ I g IM INVEN TOR. 60 700 6. SCH/106 A TTORNE Y Sept. 13, 1949. a. c. sun-mus 5 MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1944 'T Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Gama/v 6f SCH/W5 ATTIORNEY Sept. 13, 1949. s. c. SCHAUB MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25, 1944 INVENTOR. ammo/v 6: 56/0108 ATTORNLY Sept. 13, 1949. c. c. SCHAUB 2,431,639

MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1944 7 Shets-$heet 6 ZZ 57 t 14 IN V EN TOR.

J4 GORDON C SCH/405 W 6 MM A TTUR/VEV Sept. 13, 1949.

G. c. SCHAUB, 2,481,689

MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1944 7 Shawls-Sheet 7 omo/v 650mm? ATTORA/[Y Patented Sept. 13, 1949 MOLDING AND PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS Gordon 0. Schaub, Westfield, N. 1., assignor to The Best Foods, Inc., New York, N. Y.. a corporation of New Jersey Application May 25, 1944, Serial No. 537,351

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the production of plastic solid or semisolid materials and particularly to an improved method of and an apparatus for continuously and simultaneously molding and printing plastic solid or semisolid oleaginous comestibles such as margarine, butter, shortening, lard, and the like.

In the production of plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous products such as margarine, the solidifled mass of margarine, suitably worked temperature-conditioned, and blended with the requisite seasoning and other materials, is passed through a molding apparatus, commonly known as a molder, wherein it is formed into a continuous strip, ribbon, or rod having the cross-sectional shape (usually square or rectangular) desired in the finished product. This ribbon of margarine is expelled from the molder into a printing machine, usually termed a printer, which cuts the ribbon into the desired lengths or prints. These prints are then conveyed to a wrapping device or wrapper, which suitably wraps and packages them for distribution and sale.

It is desirable to so construct the molder and the printer that they can be operated continuously and synchronously as a unit assembly. Proposals looking toward the accomplishment of this objective have been made heretofore, but they have not been entirely successful because of various operating difficulties which have arisen. In

one instance, for example, such a combined apparatus designed to operate continuously involved the frequent and sudden starting and stopping of the molder with the result, inter alia, that the accompanying vibrations seriously interfered with the smooth performance of the apparatus.

Furthermore, in the operation of the printer, care must be taken that each print has the desired minimum weight for the particular size of product being made. This object is usually attained by so constructing the printer or so adlusting the margarine cutting means that each print weighs slightly more than the minimum desired amount. The result of such operation obviously represents a loss, which may average between 2 and 4% of the product sold and may range even higher. Any provision, accordingly, whereby this loss can be materially reduced will effect a substantial saving in the cost-of producing margarine and similar oleaginous materials. It will be appreciated, of course, that this operating difficulty arises from the fact that a volume measure instead or a weight measure is 2 utilized in cutting the ribbon of margarine into the individual prints. 7

One object of my invention, accordingly, is to provide an improved method 01 and an apparatus for continuously and synchronously molding and printing margarine and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved combination margarine molding and printing device which can be operated continuously and synchronously with a reater degree of accuracy in printing than heretofore possible and which can be built at a smaller cost than similar machines heretofore available.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved method of and an apparatus for continuously molding a mass of margarine into a ribbon ready for printing.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an improved molder which can be operated continuously even though the margarine or the like that it forms into the particular desired shape is only intermittently removed therefrom.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an improved method of and an apparatus for more accurately printing margarine and the like.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved printer for continuously printing margarine and the like at a high rate of speed and with a minimum of difference between the actuial weight and the desired weight of each prin A still further object of my invention is to provide a method of and an apparatus for molding, printing, and wrapping margarine and the like wherein the product is not touched or handled by the operators.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description of preferred forms of embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts in section of one form of embodiment of my improved combination molder and printer.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

'Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig.3;

Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are vertical sectional views taken substantially along the lines 55, 68, 1-1, and 8-8, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the printer shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a detail elevation with parts in section of the single-acting compressed air valve used with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line ll-li of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view, similar to that of Fig. 11, through the double-acting compressed air valve used with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 illustrates the relative positions of the cutting blades with respect to the strip of margarine as the latter is extruded from the molder and cut into prints by the printer.

Fig. 14 shows the respective positions of the cams operating the compressed air valves controlling the movement of the cutting blades, such positions corresponding to the relative positions of the cutting blades shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an elevation with parts in section of a modified form of my improved printer.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line l6-l5 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is an end view of the modified form of my improved printer shown in Fig. 15.

Figs. 18 and 19 respectively illustrate the relative positions of the cutting blades with respect to the strip of margarine and of the cams in the operation of my modified printer shown in Fig. 15.

In accordance with my invention, there is provided a combination system for continuously and simultaneously molding and printing a plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous material such as margarine and the like. This system includes a molder and a printer which are designed to continuously operate as a synchronized single unit that forms the margarine introduced into the molder into a continuous ribbon which is expelled or extruded directly into the printer for the production of the individual prints of margarine. The cutting operation of the printer, although intermittent, is substantially continuous; and the molder is designed to operate continuously despite the intermittent interruptions in the continued movement of the ribbon of margarine as it is expelled from the molder into the printer. Preferably, the operation of the combined molder and printer is synchronized with that of the wrapper into which the prints of margarine are discharged so that the molding, printing, and packaging steps are carried on smoothly and continuously.

Although my invention is applicable to the processing of various types of plastic semisolid to solid oleaginous materials as already pointed out, for convenience only it will be described in its application to the manufacture of margarine. It will be understood, however, thatthe use of my invention is not necessarily so limited.

My improved apparatus consists of a molder, generally indicated at 20, and a printer, generally indicated at 2| (see Figs. 1 and 2), which are adapted and designed to continuously operate as a single unit in combination and in synchronism with each other. The molder 20 comprises a housing 22 containing a pair of screw conveyors 23 carried on shafts 24. This housing,

which may consist of two intersecting cylindrically shaped surfaces and which is desirably designed to closely fit the screw conveyors, is car- .ried on a platform 25 having side supporting plate members 26 and end supporting plate members 21. In its top surface, housing 22 is provided with a hopper 28, through which the tempered mass .of solidified margarine emulsion is introduced into the molder. A pair of multibladed longitudinal paddles 29 carried on shafts 30 journaled in bearings formed in opposite walls of hopper 28 serve to force and fold the margarine into the path of screw conveyors 23 so that a continuous feed thereof is maintained. As shown in Fig.1, one end of each of these shafts 30 preferably extends beyond the hopper wall in which it is journaled. Although I have shown a pair of screw conveyors 23 and a pair of folding-in paddles 29, which arrangement I have found to be most satisfactory. I may use one or more than two of both the screw conveyors and the paddles if it is desirable to do so.

One end of housing 22 is open for the passage therethrough of the margarine under the pressure of the screw conveyors into the extrusion nozzle or template 3!, the outlet of which forms the margarine into a continuous ribbon having a predetermined cross section, usually rectangular, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. This extrusion nozzle is desirably provided with a jacket 32, through which a liquid tempering medium is circulated as by inlet 33 and outlet 34. Preferably, the reduction in cross section effected by this nozzle is rather gradual so that plugging of the nozzle and other operating interruptions can be avoided.

Housing 22 and nozzle 3| may be provided with flanges 36 and 31, respectively, whereby they may be fastened together by any suitable means (not shown). The other end of housing 22 is closed by plate 38, which may conveniently be an extension of one wall of hopper 28. This plate is provided with openings 39, through which shafts 24 pass. Housing 22 may also be provided with flanges 4| and 42 whereby hopper 28 may be fastened thereto in any appropriate manner (not shown). Flanges 4|, 42, and 36 also serve to space housing 22 from platform 25 as shown in Fig. 1.

The driving power for thescrew conveyors is furnished by a motor 43, the shaft 44 of which carries pulley 45. This motor may be conveniently mounted on one of the supporting plates 26 as by bolts 46, which pass through the elongated slots 41 in plate 25. Belt 48 passes over pulley 45 on shaft 44 and over pulley 49 on shaft 50, which is journaled in bearings in supporting plate 21 and in the partition plate 5| parallel thereto. Pulley 45 is preferably a vari-pulley so thatthe speed of rotation of the screw conveyors 23 may be readily and quickly adjusted when necessary. In the form of embodiment shown (see Fig. 5), shaft 50 carries a sprocket 53, which drives sprocket 54 on shaft 55 by means of sprocket chain 55. Similarly, sprocket 51 on shaft 55 drives sprocket 58 on shaft 59 by means of sprocket chain 60. Shafts 55 and 59 are also Journaled in bearings provided in plates 21 and 5|. It will be apparent that. although one speed reduction system has been shown, any other suit able system may be used in place thereof.

Pinion 6| on shaft 58 drives a second pinion 82, which idles loosely on shaft 63 fastened in the trunnions 64 attached to plate members 21 and 5|, respectively; and pinion 62 in. turn drives a third pinion 65 carried by one of the shafts 24, the extensions of which are journaled in bearings 61 in gear casing or carriage 68 and the noted that shafts 24 of screw conveyors 23 are supported entirely by the bearings in casing 08. The shaft 24 carrying pinion 65 also carries pinion II, which meshes with pinion I2 on the other shaft 24 so that the two screw conveyors 23 rotate in opposite directions. Alternatively, provision may be made to drive these screw conveyors in the same direction if it is desirable to do so.

The wall of gear casing 68, in which the thrust bearings 60 are located, is provided with 9. lug or tongue extension I4, to which the bifurcated end of a piston rod I5 is attached as by pin 10 (see Fig. 2). This connection is desirably made a little loose to insure flexibility of movement. Piston rod I5 isattached to piston 11, which slides in the pneumatic cylinder I8 under the influence of compressed air introduced thereinto through line 19. Cylinder cap is desirably provided with the vent 8 I.

Slide rails 02 (see Fig. 5) permit the gear casing 00 to slide back and forth in accordance with the movement of piston 11. These rails are attached in any appropriat manner as by welding to platform 25. For this purpose the longitudinal walls of casing 68 are provided with flanges 83, which rest on and move in corresponding shoulders in the respective slide rails 82. Members 86, which are preferably removably fastened to slide rails 82 as by bolts 85, serve to hold casing 68 in its sliding position. The pneumatic cylinder 18 may be conveniently supported by the U-brace 86 attached to the slide rails 82 as by bolts 81. As shown in Fig. 1, pinion 62 is necessarily made wider than the other pinions since it must continue to drive pinion 65 in any position that casing 68 assumes as well as during the sliding movement of casing 68.

Paddles 29 may also be driven from the same source of power (see Figs. 6 and 7). To accomplish this purpose, shaft 59 carries another pinion 88, which meshes with a second pinion 89 carried on a shaft 90 also journaled in bearings provided in the plate members 2! and 5|. Shafts 59 and 90 also carry sprockets 9| and 92, which respectively drive sprockets 93 and 94 on shafts 30 by means of sprocket chains 95 and 96. Again, although the two paddles 29 are thus rotated in opposite directions, provision may alternatively be made to drive them in the same direction if it is desirable to do so.

The printer 2| (see Figs. 3 and 4) includes a tube 90, desirably rectangular in cross section as. shown, which may be provided with a flange 99 for attachment in any convenient manner (not shown) to the flange I00 on extrusion nozzle III. The side walls of tube 98 are extended outwardly as at IN, and at their outer end these extended side walls are joined along their lower edges by a platform or support I02. Means (not shown) are desirably provided for the circulation of a liquid tempering medium through jacket I03 surrounding tube 98. The extended side walls IOI may also be so jacketed, but it has not been found necessary to do so.

A pair of reciprocating carriages, the upper one indicated generally at I04 and the lower one at I05, are positioned in the outlet end of tube 98 and between the extended side walls IN and are adapted for intermittent reciprocating movement therein. Each of these reciprocating carriages is identical in construction but will be described separately for convenience. The upper carriage includes a housing I 04a consisting of a pneumatic cylinder I06 and a chamber I 01 separated from each other by partition I08. Cover plate I09 is provided with the compressed air inlet 0. A second compressed air inlet III is provided in' the side wall of the cylinder near the bottom thereof. Two similar but oppositely disposed. right-angled substantially flat sliding members I I2 and H3 are attached to the bottom of this cylinder housing as by insertion thereinto. These sliding members are preferably made hollow; and provision (not shown) is made for the circulation of a suitable liquid tempering medium through each member, which is Provided with the necessary internal bailiing (not shown) to insure proper circulation. The longitudinal edges of members H2 and H3 are adapted to slide in grooves H4 in the respective side walls of tube 98 and the extensions thereof.

Members H2 and II3 are so positioned that a narrow transverse space is provided between their upstanding portions, in which space a cutting member H5, which may be variously termed a gate, blade, or knife, is adapted to slide. This gate is attached to piston rod I I6, which is in turn connected to piston II?! in cylinder I06. Chamber I01 accommodates the gate when it is in the raised or noncuttin (disengaged) position. The cutting edge of this gate may be made dull as shown since the margarine is sumciently plastic that it may readily be out without the use or" a knife edge. A suitable stufling gland is, of course, provided for the opening in partition I08, through which rod I I6 passes, to prevent the leakage of air therethrough. Cylinder I00 and chamber I01 may be made integral as shown or in two pieces if desired; and the sliding members may also be made integral with the cylinder housing.

The lower carriage likewise includes a housing I05a consisting of a pneumatic cylinder IIB and a chamber 9 separated from each other by partition I20. Cover plate I2I is provided with a compressed air inlet I22. A second compressed air inlet I23 is provided in the side wall of the cylinder near the top thereof. Two similar but oppositely disposed, right-angled substantially fiat sliding members I25 and I25 are attached to the top of this cylinder housing, into which they may be inserted. These members are also preferably made hollow; and provision is made for the circulation of a suitable liquid tempering medium through each member, which is provided with the necessary internal bafiling (not shown) to insure proper circulation. The longitudinal edges of members I26 and I25 are likewise adapted to slide in grooves I26 in the respective side walls and extensions of tube 90.

Members I24 and I25 are also so positioned that a narrow transverse space is provided between their upstanding portions, in which space a cutting gate or blade I2? is adapted to slide. This gate is attached to piston rod I28, which is in turn connected to the piston I29 in cylinder H8. Chamber II 9 accommodates this gate when it is in the lowered or noncutting (disengaged) position (corresponding to the raised position for gate M5). A suitable stufling gland is, of course, provided for the opening in the partition I20, through which rod I28 passes. Cylinder H8 and chamber H9 may also be made integral as shown or in two pieces if desired.

Upper housing I 04a is provided below chamber I01 with lugs or flanges I30, to each of which is attached a rack i3I that extends along the upper edge of its respective side wall IOI. Similarly, lower housing I05a is provided above chamber II 9 with lugs or flanges I32, to each of which is attached-a rack I33 that extends enace tube 90 to engage racks I3I and I33. Each gear is attached to a stud I35, one end of which is journaled in a bearing I36 fixed in the outer surface of side wall I The other end of each stud extends through an opening in channel members I31 and is attached to a crank I38. Channel members I31 fit over the lugs I30 and I32 on housings I061; and Ia, respectively, and provide a guide for the racks I3I and I33 as well as an additional bearing surface for studs I36. The outer end of each crank I33 is provided with a pin 530, which slides in the slotted portion I40 of the connecting rod IOI. Alternatively, pin I30 may be directly attached to gear 936. Means such as screw I42 may be provided in the upper end of each connecting rod I4! to vary the length of the slotted portion I40. Each connecting rod is attached at its lower end by means of pin I43 to a second crank I44, which is itself attached to one end of shaft I45. This shaft may be conveniently journaled in bearings I46 supported on bases I41 attached to supporting plate 21. Power to drive shaft I46 may be furnished from any suitable source (not shown) through belt I48 passing over pulle I49.

ghaft I65 (see Fig. 9) carries cams I50, I5I, and I 52, which respectively operate compressed air valves I50a, Nile, and I52a. Each of these valves is supported on a. base I53a, which may also be conveniently attached to supporting plate 21. In this form of embodiment of my inven tion, valve I50a is desirably single-acting, and valves I 5Ia and I52a are desirably double-acting. Valve I50a (see Figs. and 11) consists of a cylinder I53 and a valve stem I54 extending through the closed ends of the cylinder. This cylinder is provided with a compressed air inlet I55, a compressed air outlet I56, and an exhaust vent I51. Cam follower I58 is kept in contact with the periphery of cam I50 through the constant pressure exerted by coiled spring I59 against valve stem I54, on which the cam follower rests. One end of the cam follower may be pivoted as at I60 in the lug I 6| extending from the body of valve I 50a. Valves I5Ia and I521: (see Fig. 12) are similar in construction to valve I50a but are provided with two compressed air inlets I62 and I63, which may be branches of a common supply line I64, two compressed air outlets I65 and I66, and two exhaust vents I61 and I60. The compressed air inlets of the several valves may be conveniently supplied from the manifold line I69.

The outlet I56 from compressed air valve I50a is connected by a flexible tube (not shown) to the inlet 19 on pneumatic cylinder 18, which effects the forward movement of screw conveyors 23. One of the outlets from compressed air valve I5Ia is connected by suitable flexible tubing (not shown) to inlet I I0 on cylinder I06, which operates the gate H5, and the other outlet is similarly connected to inlet III on cylinder I06. One of the outlets from compressed air valve 152a is likewise connected by suitable flexible tubing (not shown) to inlet I22 on cylinder I I0, which operates the gate I21, and the other outlet is similarly connected to inlet I23 on cylinder IIO.

In the operation of this combined moider and printer, the tempered mass of' solidified margarine emulsion is fed into hopper 28, wherein it is forced-and folded continuously into housing 22. Screw conveyors 23, which are continuously rotated, pick up the margarine and force it under compression into the extrusion nozzle 3i, which forms the margarine into a continuous strip or ribbon I 10 having the desired rectangular cross section. This continuous strip of margarine is extruded from nozzle 3I into tube 90, wherein it is engaged by the reciprocating carriages I04 and I05, the movable gates of which intermittently cut the strip of margarine into prints and discharge the resulting prints from the printer. Platform I02, which may conveniently be made of wood, supports the margarine prints as they are pushed and displaced from the printer into a wrapping machine (not shown in drawings).

The strip of margarine is cut into the desired prints by the cutting gates or blades H5 and I21, which are operated by means of the pneumatic cylinders I06 and H8, respectively. The relative positions of these cutting gates during the several stages of the cutting cycle are clearly shown in Fig. 13. During this entire cycle one or the other of these gates always blocks the passage defined by tube 98, its extensions, and the reciprocating carriages so that there is a continuous back pressure exerted on the strip of margarine being extruded through nozzle 3| under the influence of screw conveyors 23. A suitable liquid tempering medium such as water at -100 F. is desirably circulated through the Jacket around nozzle 3| and that around tube 98 and through the hollow portions of the reciprocating carriages to reduce the friction caused by the extrusion and the expulsion of the margarine and to thereby prevent possible plugging of the apparatus.

With reference to Fig. 13, in the stage shown in Fig. 13a, the upper cutting gate II5 has been moved forward a distance equal to the width of print P, and the lower cutting gate I21 has been moved backward an equal distance. In the stage shown in Fig. 13b, lower gate I21 has been moved into the cutting position to form print P and in that shown in Fig. 130, upper gate II5 has been moved out of the cutting position leaving print P to be wrapped and packaged by the wrapper. The movements of the two gates are so synchronized in these two stages that gate I21 moves entirely into the cutting position before movement of gate II! from such position is begun. The possibility of forming nonuniform or mutilated prints is thus substantially eliminated.

In the stage shown in Fig. 13d, lower gate I21 has been moved forward a distance equal to the width of print P which has displaced print P towards the wrapper and itself now occupies the space formerly taken up by print P, and upper gate II5 has been moved backward an equal distance. In the stage shown in Fig. 13c, the upper gate II 5 has been moved into the cutting position to form the print P and in that shown in Fig. 13f, lower gate I21 has been moved out of the cutting position leaving print P to be wrapped and packaged. Again, gate H5 is moved into its cutting position before gate I21 is moved out of its cutting position. The cycle is then repeated. the next stage being that shown in Fig. 13a.

The cutting movements of the two gates are controlled by cams I5I and I52, which respectively pneumatically actuate pistons H1 and I23 in cylinders I06 and H8, which in turn respectively operate the gates H6 and I21. The corresponding relative positions of cams I 5| and I52, when the gates II 6 and I21 are in the positions indicated in Figs. 18a to 13!, are shown in Figs. 14a to 14!. The backward and forward movement of the reciprocating carriages respectively carrying cutting gates H and I21 successively into their cutting and disengaging positions is effected by the alternate partial rotation of gears I34, which are so moved by the action of connecting rods MI, themselves actuated by the rotation of cranks I on shaft I45.

Necessarily, the operation of the printer, although substantially continuous, is intermittent because of the timed movements of gates H5 and I21. Because of this condition, the extrusion of the continuous strip of margarine from nozzle 3| is also intermittent. The screw conveyors 23, which are rotated continuously, however, cannot then continuously force margarine through nozzle 3|; and, accordingly, while steadily forcing the margarine into nozzle 3| and against one or both of gates H5 and I21, they gradually screw themselves out of the compressed mass of margarine and force the gear casing 68, to which they are firmly attached, to slide backward along rails 82. The net effect may be likened to that arising when a bolt loosens itself from a nut held in a fixed position. When either of the two gates H5 and I21 is moved forward by the movement of eithercarriage IN or I05, respectively, the screw conveyors also move forward and extrude another portion of the continuous strip of margarine through nozzle 3|.

The forward movement of these screw conveyors is eirected by means of piston 11, which is attached to gear casing 88 through piston rod 15 and which is pneumatically actuated through air valve |50a by means of cam I50. During this forward movement the screw conveyors act much like a ram and, in fact, force the margarine through nozzle 3| under considerable pressure. The action of the screw conveyors packs the particles of solidified margarine together whereby the margarine is delivered through nozzle 3| in r a solid stream that is devoid of air pockets. This forward movement is extremely rapid as compared to the slow backward movement when con- \my invention, I can produce upwards of 60 or veyors 23 screw themselves out of the compressed margarine. Cam I50 is so positioned with respect to cams I5I and I52 and'its operation so synchronized with the operation of cams I5I and I52 that piston 11 is actuated only when either gate H5 or gate I21 is being moved forward, 1. e., when gate H5 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 13a from that shown in Fig. 13 and when gate I21 is moved into the position shown in Fig. 13d from that shown in Fig. 13c.

In this connection it will be noted that the shape of cam I50 is different from that of cams I5| and I52, which are similar, since cam I50 must accomplish forward movement of screw conveyors 23 twice for each complete cycle of movement of the reciprocating carriages and since valve I500. is desirably single-acting and valves |5la and I52a are desirably double-acting. The respective shapes of these cams are clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 14. As already described, these cams are all desirably fastened on the same shaft together with cranks I so that the operation of the screw conveyors. that of the reciprocating car riages, and that of the cutting gates can be fully synchronized. Also, shaft I carrying these cams and cranks may desirably be driven from the wrapper as by means of belt I48 and pulley I49 whereby the molding, printing, and wrapping operations can all be synchronized.

In this manner, the screw conveyors 23 can be more uniform prints per minute.

In this connection it is to be noted that the rate at which the screw conveyors force margarine into nozzle 3| is desirably somewhat greater than the rate at which the resulting continuous strip of margarine is extruded from nozzle 31 and then cut into prints so that the delivery of a full amount of margarine to nozzle 3| and the production of uniformly shaped cuts are assured. This excess margarine thus present in housing 22 does not, however, interfere with'the operation of the molder and is continuously squeezed backward along the internal surface of the housing and between the two screw conveyors.

Accurate adjustment of-cutting blades H5 and I21 so that the difference between the actual weight and the desired weight of each print is reduced to the very minimum is also permitted by my improved apparatus. This object is accomplished by varying the length of the slotted portion I40 in connecting rods MI by adjusting the position of screws M2 whereby the distance that the reciprocatin carriages HM and IE5 are moved with each revolution of shaft I65 is closely and carefully controlled. Although, in the form of my invention as described above, the distance that the reciprocating carriages are moved represents the width of the desired margarine print, it may also represent the length or even the thickness thereof.

A modified form of embodiment of my improved printer, which is provided with only one rcciprocating carriage, is shown in Figs. 15 to 17. Since many elements of both forms of my improved apparatus are the same, the same reference numbers will be used when it is convenient to do so.

This modification includes the rectangular cross sectional tube 98 provided with the extended side walls IM and also provided with the extended top wall Ill, which is desirably jacketed as at I12. Attached to the'outer end of this extended top wall is the stationary housing I13, which is similar in construction to the housing Illda in the reciprocating carriage I04 used with the form of my invention previously described and which contains the upper cutting gate or blade I14.

Reciprocatin carriage I15 containing cutting gate or blade I16 is positioned in the outlet end of tube-98 and is adapted to move in an intermittent reciprocating manner along the bottom wall thereof. The construction of this carriage is identical to that of reciprocating carriage |05a shown in Fig. 4 except that, in Fig. 15, cylinder 8 is provided with outlet I23a below the raised position of piston I29 and with the vent I11. In addition, the flanges I32 extending from the upper portion of housing I15a are attached to the racks I18, which engage gears I34 respectively carried on the ends of shaft I19 journaled in brackets I attached to or formed integrally with the bottom wall of tube 98. Attached to one end of shaft I19 is the crank I38, the outer portion of which is provided with pin I39 adapted to slide in the slotted portion I40 of the connectin rod Ill.

Connecting rod MI is actuated by the rotation of shaft I45, to which are attached cams I8I, I82,

11 and I83 respectively operating compressed air valves I6Ia, I62a, and Iain. These valves may all be single-acting, and their construction is similar to that of valve I500; shown in detail in Fig. 10. As in the form of my invention previously decribed, valve I8Ia is connected by flexible tubing (not shown) to cylinder 18 which actuates the screw conveyors 23 in a forward direction. The outlet from valve I82a is connected by suitable flexible tubing (not shown) to inlet III) on cylinder I06 which operates the gate I14; and the outlet from valve I830. is similarly connected to inlet I22 on cylinder IIB, which operates the gate I16. A flexible tubing connection I64 is provided between outlet I23a on cylinder H8 and inlet III on cylinder I06.

The relative positions of cutting gates 14 and I16 during the several stages of the cutting cycle of this modified printer are clearly shown in Fig. 18. Again, during this entire cycle, one of these gates is always. positioned across the passage defined by tube 98, its wall extensions, and the reciprocating carriage I16.

In the stage shown in Fig. 18a, the lower cutting gate I16 has just been moved backward a distance equal to the width of the print to be made. In the stage shown in Fig. 18b, gate I16 has been moved into the cutting position to form print P and in that shown in Fig. 18c, the upper gate I14 has just been moved out of the cutting position leavin print P to be wrapped and packaged. The movement of these two gates is also so synchronized that gate I16 moves entirely into the cutting position before the disengagement of gate I14 begins. This synchronization is desirably accomplished by the actuation of piston I29 by the introduction of compressed air through inlet I22 into cylinder II8 immediately followed by the actuation of piston II1 by diversion through tubing I64 into cylinder I06.of a portion of the compressed air introduced continuously into cylinder I I8.

In the stage shown in Fig. 18d, lower gate I16 has been moved forward a distance equal to the width of print P which has displaced print P towards the wrapper and itself now occupies the space formerly taken up by print P; and in that shown in Fig. 18c, upper gate I14 has been moved into the cutting position and has thereby displaced lower gate I16. Again, the movements of these two gates are so synchronized that gate I16 .is moved out of the cutting position only as gate I14 is moved into the same cutting position. Desirably, gate I16 is displaced by gate I14 under the actuation of piston ill by compressed air introduced through inlet I I0.

Forward movement of screw conveyors 23 is again efiected only during the forward movement of gate I16 but is accomplished only once for each complete cycle of movement of reciprocating carriage I15. Cam I8I is also so positioned on shaft I45 with respect to cams I62 and"! and the operations of all three cams are so synchronized that piston 11 is actuated only when gate I16 is being moved forward into the position shown in Fig. 18d from that shown in Fig. 180.

.Figs. 19a to l9e show the relative positions of cams I82 and I83 corresponding, respectively, to the relative positions or the cutting gates shown in Figs. 18a to 18a. The shape of the three cams, which are similar, is clearly shown'in Fig, 19.

Upper gate H4 is desirably made somewhat thinner than lower gate I16 as shown in Fig. 18 so that water or some other suitable fluid may be injected against the outer surface of the gates in order to permit easier separation of the margarine print therefrom. Preferably, the two gates gruihso positioned that their inner surfaces are With this modified form of printer, accurate printing can also be obtained; and the operations of the molder, the printer, and the wrapper (not shown) can be completely synchronized. It will be obvious, however, that, at the same speed of operation, this modified printer will produce only half as many prints as the form first described.

It will be apparent that the stationary housing I13 may be positioned on the bottom wall of tube 98 and the reciprocating carriage I on the top wall or that both may be positioned on the side walls. Similarly, in the form of printer shown in Fig. 1, both reciprocating carriages may be poistioned on the side walls if it is desirable or necessary to do so. Furthermore, in either form, the two cutting gates are desirably, although not necessarily, located in opposite walls of tube 66.

It will also be apparent that the application of my invention is not necessarily limited to the molding and printing of plastic oleaginous materials but that my invetnion may also be applied to the molding and printing of other semisolid to solid plastic comestibles such as yeast, ice cream, and the like.

' Although I have described preferred forms oi embodiment of my invention, I am not necessarily limited thereto; and only the limitations appearing in the claims appended hereafter should be applied,

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for molding a plastic semisolid to solid material, a housing having an inlet for the introduction of a mass of said material thereinto and an outlet for the discharge of molded material therefrom, means in said housing to propel the mass of material under pressure toward said outlet, means to continuously operate said propelling means, means to intermittently discharge the molded material through said outlet, pressure means to move said propelling means toward said outlet and to effect additional pressure on said material toward said outlet and means to release periodically said pressure means.

2. In an apparatus for molding a plastic semisolid to solid material, a housing having an inlet for the introduction of a mass of said material thereinto and an outlet for the discharge of molded material therefrom, means in said housing to propel the mass of material under pressure toward said outlet, means to continuously operate said propelling means, means to permit intermittent discharge of the molded material through said outlet, pressure means to move said propelling means toward said outlet and to effect additional pressure on said material toward said sure means,

3. In an apparatus for molding a plastic semisolid to solid material, a housing having an inlet for the introduction of a mass of said material thereinto and an outlet for the discharge of molded material therefrom, rotatable means in said housing to propel the mass of material under pressure toward said outlet, means to continuously rotate said rotatable means, means to intermittently discharge the molded material through said outlet, and means to force the rotatable forcing means toward the outlet during the discharge oi molded material therethrough and means to release periodically said forcing 76 means.

outlet and means to release periodically said pres- 4. In an apparatus for molding a plastic semisolid to solid material, a housing, means to introduce a mass of said material into said housing, said housing having an outlet for the discharge of molded material therefrom, rotatable means in said housing to'propel the mass of material under pressure toward said outlet, means to continuously rotate said rotatable means, means to intermittently discharge the molded material through said outlet, means to force the rotatable forcing means toward the outlet during the disterial into said housing, said housing having an outlet for the discharge of said oleaginous material therefrom, a screw conveyor in said housing to propel the mass of oleaginous material under continuous pressure toward said outlet, means to continuously rotate said screw conveyor, an extrusion nozzle at said outlet for molding the oleaginous material into a continuous ribbon having the desired cross section, means to intermittently discharge the molded oleaginous material through said nozzle, forcing means to force the screw conveyor toward said nozzle during the discharge of molded oleaginous material therethrough and means to release said forcing means and to permit the screw conveyor to move away from said nomle during interruption of the discharge of molded oleaginous material therethrough.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the means to release said forcing means and to permit movement of the screw conveyor away from the extrusion nozzle includes a carriage, bearings in said carriage for supporting the shaft of the screw conveyor, sliding means attached to said carriage, and supporting means on which said sliding means rest and slide.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6,' in which the forcing means to force the screw conveyor toward the extrusion nozzle includes a cylinder having a piston attached to the screw conveyor and means to introduce a fluid under pressure into the cylinder to actuate said piston.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, which includes means to synchronize the forward movement of the screw conveyor with the discharge of the molded oleaginous material.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, which includes means to synchronize the movement of the screw conveyor away from the extrusion nozzle with the interruptions in the discharge of the molded olessinolu material.

11. In an apparatus for molding and printing a plastic semisolid to solid material, means to mold a mass of said material into a continuous ribbon having a predetermined cross section, said molding means including a rotatable means for propolling the mass of material therethrough under continuous pressure, means to continuouslyrotate said rotatable means, means to intermittently receive and advance the ribbon of material from the molding means, means to force periodically said rotatable means. forward during the advancement of said ribbon, means to permit the withdrawal of said rotatable means during the continuous rotation thereof, and means to cut the advanced continuous ribbon into prints of 15. In an apparatus for molding and printing a plastic semisolid to solid'material, means to mold a mass of said material into a continuous ribbon having a predetermined cross section, said molding means including a rotatable means for propelling the mass of material therethrough under continuous pressure, means to continuously rotate said rotatable means, means to intermittently receive and advance the ribbon of material from the molding means, means to cut the advanced ribbon into prints of a predetermined size, and means to force periodically said rotatable means forward during the advancement of said ribbon.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, which includes means to synchronize the forward movement of the rotatable means with the intermittent advancement of the ribbon.

1'7. In an apparatus for molding and printing a plastic semisolid to solid material, means to mold a mass of said material into a continuous ribbon having a predetermined cross section, said molding means including a rotatable means for propelling the mass of material therethrough under continuous pressure, means to continuously rotate said rotatable means,-means to intermittently receive and advance the ribbon of material from the molding means, means to cut the advanced ribbon into prints of a predetermined size, means to permit retraction of said rotatable means during the interruption of the advancement of said ribbon, means to force said rotatable means forward during the advancement of said ribbon, means to synchronize the retraction and the forward movement of the rotatable means with the stopping and starting of the advancement of the ribbon, respectively, and means to synchronize the operation oi. the cutting means with the interruption of the advancement of the ribbon.

GQRDON C. SCHAUB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Doering et al. June 8, 1943 

